- Details
IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, reports how paperwork prevented Robbie Waterhouse from fielding in Toowoomba on Saturday.
Butts predicts the chances of Waterhouse fielding at other carnival meetings in Brisbane are starting to lengthen considerably.
Here is his column:
- Details
THE Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board (QACRIB) has today warned-off greyhound licensee Mr Peter Sykes following a show-cause hearing at Racing Queensland Headquarters.
As part of the deliberations, QACRIB Chairman Kevin Dixon noted that Mr Sykes had refused to co-operate with Racing Queensland Stewards investigating live-baiting in the industry.
- Details
The Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board (QACRIB) has today warned off a further 14 participants for life after show cause hearings were held at Deagon on Tuesday.
As part of Racing Queensland’s ongoing investigations into live-baiting within the greyhound industry, the 14 individuals were issued with show-cause notices on April 15 and invited to provide submissions.
- Details
BY TERRY BUTTS
of the NQ Register
HE was one of racing’s greatest characters – and one of the north’s best trainers.
George Doolan was his name….
George passed away in the early hours of Tuesday in Cairns Base Hospital after a long and merciless battle with cancer.
A battle that took just about everything, except perhaps his famous sense of humour which he retained right to the very end.
He died squeezing the hand of his long devoted wife Viv, and the other idol of his life, daughter Jade.
George had a colourful history. Firstly, as a policeman in Brisbane, then around the bush of country Queenbsland. His last posting was Ingham where he took out a trainer’s license that he held until the énd of last year when diagnosed with cancer.
He had been down and out a few times in the past two years but always managed to drag himself from the canvas for another bout.
But after watching his beloved football and the races on Sunday from home, he went back to palliative care on Monday where he died peacefully.
Her had many sayings, for just about any situation, but the one I loved best was his description of ‘someone he reckoned lacked ability, especially in the racing game’.
“What he knows about horses you could write on a postage stamp with a crow bar….”
I will always remember that – and will never forget the bloke. The ex copper who dressed up on the big race days in Cairns with a pink tie….smothered with little pigs….
How could you forget him?
- Details
AS the new-look Winter Racing Carnival is launched at the Gold Coast on Saturday – with its richest ever prizemoney and a $2 million Stradbroke that will reward mediocrity being run at Doomben – a ‘secret’ battle of Group 1 proportions is brewing behind the scenes at Racing Queensland.
The ‘blame game’ has intensified within the Deagon Bunker – with some key figures fighting for their very survival – as the countdown begins to the recommendations of the MacSporran Inquiry into ‘live baiting’ in the greyhound industry being delivered to Racing Minister Bill Byrne.
Some key staff are so concerned at what they call ‘deteriorating morale at the way the Kevin Dixon-led Board is running the show’ that they want the Government to intervene and take some action to restore confidence before RQ deteriorates into an internal battlefield.
- Details
POLICE have arrested two people, one of them a licensed greyhound trainer, in connection with the dumping of 55 dead greyhounds in bushland near Bundaberg.
NATALIE BOCHENSKI reports for BRISBANETIMES.COM.AU that investigators executed a search warrant at a Bundaberg property late Thursday afternoon, allegedly locating a rifle and ammunition.
A 71-year-old Bundaberg man was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
A 64-year-old Bundaberg woman and licensed greyhound trainer has been charged with one count each of unlawful possession of a firearm and obstructing police.
- Details
IT’S time the All Codes Board of Racing in Queensland took the necessary steps to bring an end to the barbaric acts that continue to dog greyhound racing in this State. 
The all-powerful authority should order the Queensland Greyhound Board to offer a $1 million reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the 55 carcasses found dumped near Bundaberg.
And as outrageous as it might sound, this $1 million should be taken from the prize-money pool for greyhound racing in Queensland. Someone in the industry knows something about this disgusting act and unfortunately the one factor that rules all in racing is money.
Read more: IT'S TIME FOR DOGS TO COUGH UP A $1 MILLION REWARD
- Details
THE bodies of 55 greyhounds have been found dumped in bushland near Bundaberg.
NATALIE BOCHENSKI reports for BRISBANETIMES.COM.AU that a member of the public discovered the carcasses on Tuesday in the Wild Flower Reserve on Coonarr Beach Road in Coonarr.
They were in varying states of decomposition.
The police and RSPCA joint greyhound racing inquiry task force is now investigating.
RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said it was believed the dogs were killed before the Four Corners special on live-baiting in the greyhound racing industry was aired on February 16.
"Unfortunately as I think most people would be aware, there's always been a lot of wastage in the greyhound industry," he said.
"The indications are that these may just be young dogs that didn't have the speed, basically. But that's really all we know."
There were no greyhound training facilities or other connections to the racing industry in the area, a police spokesperson said.
Bobby Etheridge from the Friends of the Hound greyhound rescue group said the dumping of unwanted dogs was sad but not surprising news.
"It's horrible, and really shocking to those who don't know about it, but it's everyday business in the greyhound world," she said.
"We have been trying to tell people this for years, but it falls on deaf ears every time because there's too much money involved."
Autopsies will be carried out to determine the cause of death, and the dogs' ages.
Queensland Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller took to social media to say she was "absolutely sickened" by the news.
"Animal cruelty in Queensland won't be tolerated," she said.
Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon described the discovery as "a despicable circumstance".
"We'll seek a formal report from the police," he said.
"We'll obviously work with police to assist in their investigations and take the appropriate response."
Mr Condon said he hadn't previously seen anything to indicate "a mass dumping of dogs".
The joint RSPCA and Queensland Police taskforce was established to investigate the use of live baiting using possums, rabbits and piglets to train competitive greyhounds.
It came after an ABC Four Corners expose from earlier this year sparked widespread outrage after showing racing dogs chasing and mauling live animals.
So far, five people have been charged with a total of 23 offences in the state.
An independent review headed up by barrister Alan MacSporran SC is also being conducted into the practice.
It's expected to be completed in about three months' time.
This review aims to find out how widespread the use of live baiting is in Queensland, and how it could go undetected for so long.
Police have urged anyone with information about the dead greyhounds in Coonarr to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
- Details
RACING Queensland has ramped up its night racing program, announcing eight additional meetings in the 2015-16
thoroughbred season as part of its racing calendar released today.
CEO Darren Condon said the 13-meeting night racing program in 2015-16 was closely aligned to that of Victoria to maximise wagering interest and provide Queensland clubs with a chance to capitalise on the night trade during the summer.
- Details
MINISTER MUST ACT ON INDUSTRY CALL FOR ALL CODES BOARD TO RESIGN 
by JOHN LINGARD, EDITOR of LGHR
IT was the biggest story in greyhound racing in Queensland since the live baiting scandal all but brought the sport to its knees – but strangely – perhaps even sadly – it did not rate one line in the mainstream media.
An industry meeting in Brisbane this week, attended by almost 200 stakeholders and addressed by Queensland Greyhound Board Chairman Michael Byrne and Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon, ended in controversial circumstances.
All but one of those in attendance supported a virtual motion of no confidence in RQ’s handling of the ‘live baiting’ saga and called on the All Codes Board, chaired by Kevin Dixon, to resign or at least stand down pending the outcome of the Government-ordered review.
Join Us on Facebook
- Test
- LATEST OFFER FOR THE LGHR LATE MAIL SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE - JOIN THE WINNERS!
- LET'S BAN THE WHIP IN RACING by PHIL PURSER
- BRILLIANT DAY OF RACING OVERSHADOWED DREADFUL EXPOSE
- RACING - NOT A FURLONG IN FRONT - BUT NO 1 SPORT IN QUEENSLAND?
- THE PROS & CONS OF MECCADAY
- HONK KONG ATTRACTS WORLD'S BEST FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY
- Test
- MINISTER GRILLED ON GOLD COAST NIGHT RACING & MINOR CODES INFRASTRUCTURE
- LABOR HAVE LEARNT FROM THEIR MISTAKES WHEN IT COMES TO RACING
Racing News
